The Bottineau/Rugby boys hockey team earned a 4-1 win over Devils Lake on Nov. 20, claiming a victory in its first game of the season.

“It was a good way to start the season,” Braves head coach David Hoff said. “I was pleased with several areas, most importantly I liked the amount of time we possessed the puck.”

The Braves scored four unanswered goals after Lukas LaMotte gave the Firebirds a 1-0 lead 11:45 into the first period.

B/R started to get things churning a few minutes later as the team’s top line got the Braves on the board.

Cody Longie scored with assists from Harrison Aide and Luke Amsbaugh. In the second period the Braves took the lead with the same combination. This time Amsbaugh put the puck in the net with assists from Longie and Aide on a B/R power play.

Andrew Hill got into the scoring column in the third period, scoring just 1:05 into the period with Aide and Longie once again providing assists.

The Braves put up 38 shots on DL goalie Holden Kurtz.

“I thought we showed a lot of poise with the puck,” Hoff said. “We had a lot of quality opportunities that we did not finish – but at least we are getting the opportunities.”

Hill rounded out the scoring in the third period, again on the power play, with Aide providing his fourth assist of the game.

In goal for B/R, Riley Monson made 23 saves on 24 shots to earn the win. The Braves will travel to Deloraine, Manitoba, on Nov. 24 for a game and then will host Deloraine on Nov. 27 in Bottineau.